Menoturals; First Friday Filmclub

Linking to the LLB gang's Nature Friday blog hop... with something you might at first think is the biggest stretch of connection yet. However, I'd like you to note how, beyond the vans themselves, it is the environments that we travellers find ourselves in that bring us together, that it is a love of the wide open spaces and the nature in them that lures us and keeps us going, and that, for all of that, it is in the sharing and caring that life is Lived Lovingly... (and watch out for a very familiar face at around minute six...)

Snow and Curt were one of the first van channels I started watching way back when thoughts of van life were still seeding. I subbed to their channel in late 2019 - just as they were preparing to leave their USA tour and enter Mexico. They are amazing travellers, with their two darling cats, and if you enjoy National Geographic-style videos, then do go and check out any one of their series. 

Menootering; Etal

Last Thursday, I introduced you to Ford, a small place with big heart and large art. The eagle-eyed among you may have noted another name on a couple of the photos... Etal. Nowadays, the two names are linked, and therefore Ford-and-Etal is what you will hear folk saying. There is actually a third place as part of the visiting experience, which is a water mill in between the two villages, but we didn't do that on this occasion.

Let me round off the Ford visit. After a drop into the local garden and gift shop (yes, we bought stuff!), we wandered along to the church, where we paid respects at the grave of Lady Louisa Waterford, and sat and enjoyed the interior for a little while. Note the heat haze on yonder hillsides!

Something I didn't mention last week was that we had arrived late morning and were ready for a cuppa, so had partaken of a wonderful cuppa and, in Aitch's case, scone and jam, and in mine, a chocolate cookie at the Ford cafe and post office. Quite filling, so we didn't have lunch, per se. 

By the time we reached the couple of miles up the road to Etal and had a wander through the castle ruins, we were ready for something more. So we sat at The Lavender Tearooms (outside) and enjoyed a late lunch/early tea. Aitch had the cheese and ham sandwich with salad and crisps (and that was filled to spilling over), whilst I had the Brie and Cranberry toastie, which was also very well filled and absolutely delicious. I didn't capture the tearoom, but I did snap the pub across the road from it... as well as some of the castle.

As mentioned above, the two names have become linked. Ford & Etal is a 15,000-acre estate in north Northumberland, England, just four miles from the Scottish border. For centuries, Ford and Etal were separate, rival border fiefdoms marked by bloody Anglo-Scottish conflicts. They were finally united in 1908 under the Joicey family, who still manage the rural working estate today. Here is a snapshot of the map to give you an idea of how they relate to each other... (I've circled them in the yellow)

The river connecting them all is called the Till. As you might imagine, Ford got its name from the crossing you see on the map, which is now bridged. (According to Newcastle Uni, the current stone Ford Bridge was built in 1809. However, it incorporates older sections from earlier crossings at the site, including an arch that dates back to the 16th century... You can see a photo on this link.) 

At that marker where it mentions the railway, is where the watermill is sited... that and a ride on the wee train will have me visiting there again at some point!

Then, to finish off this post, up near Etal Castle, is a true and proper ford, still used. It was a big day, and we returned home very satisfied with our outing!

Menoizikul; Midweek Musicalisms

Although there are not five Wednesdays in August, I am going to start with another guest piece chosen by Joni. Some 1920's classical jazz. It was to be part of the "fifth wheel" series, but there were only four months with five Wednesdays this year! So this was a "spare wheel" 😁 It also triggered a little deeper search on my part on this composer, so he is going to be showcased this month.

I admit that jazz is far from being my first choice in listening, certainly not for relaxing. However, I appreciate the musicality of it, and when it is of concert quality like this, then I give it due deference. The first item on the list is definitely challenging, but after a minute or so, it drops into "Blues" and then a lush "Tango" influenced piece... give it a go and tell me, yes or no?